Rene E. Harrison
Professor
Telephone number
416-287-7377
Lab
416-287-7440
Keywords
Microtubules; Macrophages; Osteoblasts; Vesicle trafficking; Infection
Research Interests
Prof. Harrison is a cell biologist and oversees many of the microscopes in the CNS. Professor Harrison is an active user of the CNS tissue culture facilities, spinning disk confocal, laser scanning confocal, apotome epifluorescent and transmission and scanning electron microscopes. Professor Harrison's laboratory studies cytoskeletal contributions to macrophage, osteoblast and osteoclast cell function. Specifically they are studying the cellular mechanisms that drive phagocytosis in macrophages, bone deposition by osteoblasts and bone degradation by osteoclasts. They are interested in the molecular mechanisms orchestrating these functions in normal and diseased cellular states. Her group is also examining how pathogens, like Chlamydia, manipulate the host cell cytoplasm for bacteria growth and propogation.